Cubs acquire LHP Jose Quintana from the White Sox for OF Eloy Jimenez, RHP Dylan Cease, 1B Matt Rose and INF Bryant Flete
The Cubs added a controllable starting pitcher to the roster Thursday with a rare, and unexpected, deal with the White Sox. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer sent top prospects OF Eloy Jimenez and RHP Dylan Cease, along with prospects 1B Matt Rose and INF Bryant Flete to the Sox for LHP Jose Quintana.
Quintana is under club control through the 2020 campaign. And the lefty will … [Read more...]

OF Eloy Jimenez, 2B/OF Ian Happ, RHP Ryan Williams, RHP James Farris, OF John Andreoli, OF Mark Zagunis and INF/OF Chesny Young among the 24 players receiving non-roster invites to big league camp
The Cubs announced Friday the list of players that will be in Major League Spring Training on non-roster invitations. And six of the top prospects in the organization received NRIs ... OF Eloy Jimenez, 2B/OF Ian Happ, RHP Ryan Williams, RHP James Farris, OF John Andreoli, OF Mark Zagunis and INF/OF … [Read more...]

Minor League Ball released its ranking of the top prospects in the Cubs’ system. And the list, headlined by Eloy Jimenez, looks a lot different than it did a year ago.
The 20-year old outfielder Eloy Jimenez tops John Sickels ranking of the top prospects in the Cubs’ system. Jimenez is the only Grade A prospect in the organization, right now, according to Minor League Ball.
Jimenez had an excellent year, one that started with Low-A South Bend and recently ended with an AFL Championship. … [Read more...]

Position Analysis – Left Field
Happy Thanksgiving!
It’s time to move to the outfield after taking an in depth look at catcher, first base, second base, shortstop and third base in the Cubs’ system. Today, the CCO focuses on a position that has a lot of promise: Left Field.
Left Field
Left field seemed like a black hole for the Cubs at the major league level when Kyle Schwarber went down to an injury early on. Jorge Soler took over until he was injured, and after that a mash-up of Matt … [Read more...]

The winter leagues had a sparse week as we head into the holiday season. With a breakout performance by Ian Happ, Mesa was able to claim the Arizona Fall League Championship. James Farris was also vital for the Solar Sox down the stretch.
Meanwhile, Corey Black and Yasiel Balaguert were top performers in the Roberto Clemente League.
With the long and short of it, take a look inside today’s Down on the Farm Report.
Arizona Fall League
The start of the final week of the season started … [Read more...]

Mesa beats Surprise 6-1 for first AFL Championship since 2003, Ian Happ goes 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs in victory
The Mesa Solar Sox and Surprise Saguaros squared off in the Arizona Fall League Championship Game on Saturday afternoon at Scottsdale Stadium. Mesa jumped out to an early lead on a three-run homer from Brian Anderson (Marlins) and never looked back. Ian Happ (Cubs) hit a pair of homers for Mesa’s other three runs and put the game in the hands of the pitching staff.
The … [Read more...]

Ian Happ, Eloy Jimenez in starting lineup for Solar Sox in Arizona Fall League Championship Game
The Mesa Solar Sox take on the Surprise Saguaros at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday afternoon (2:00pm CST) for the Arizona Fall League Championship. The game will be carried live on MLB Network and MLB.com.
The Solar Sox won the East Division title on the final day of the AFL regular season. Mesa was 16-15-1 on the fall. The Solar Sox feature prospects from the Cubs, Indians, Marlins, A’s and … [Read more...]

Relief pitching took center stage this past week in the winter leagues as Corey Black has thrust his name back into the spotlight with two saves in the Roberto Clemente League. Greyfer Eregua and Armando Rivero were also successful in Venezuela, while Ryan McNeil, Stephen Perakslis, and James Farris all had good weeks in the Arizona Fall League.
Along with action from the Dominican Winter League, the Down on the Farm Report is ready to close with a flourish.
Arizona Fall League
In a close … [Read more...]

MiLB.com released its Cubs Organizational All-Star Team. And it is headlined by four of the top position-player prospects in the system.
Ian Happ, Eloy Jimenez, Jeimer Candelario and Donnie Dewees stayed on their individual player plans this past season. Happ, Jimenez, Candelario and Dewees put up the numbers on the field to remain at the top of the position-player prospects in what remains a stocked minor league system.
MiLB.com pointed out that The World Series Champions, “despite a … [Read more...]